Trump: Cruz Is No Longer ‘Lyin’ Ted,’ He’s ‘Beautiful Ted’

Donald Trump spoke to the White House press pool on the South Lawn today as he prepared to leave for Texas tonight. The president is stumping for Ted Cruz (R) in Houston as the senator faces Beto O’Rourke (D) in the Texas midterm elections, so of course, Trump was asked about the…complicated relationship he has with Cruz.

Political observers may recall that during the 2016 election, Trump glued Cruz to the nickname of “Lyin’ Ted,” disparaged his wife’s physical appearance, and suggested that the senator’s father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. When asked today why he’s campaigning on behalf of “Lying Ted,” Trump said that his old nickname no longer applies.

“He’s not Lyin Ted anymore. He’s Beautiful Ted.”

So, yeah. Trump continued to insist that he and Cruz have buried the hatchet despite the “very nasty” history between the two. Since Trump decided to revoke his previous insult to Cruz, he was also asked if he regrets spreading his baseless claims about the senator’s father.